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Chapter One
“No, no, no, no,” Anya groaned. Her shoulders slumped in defeat. She stared down at the gauges on the car’s dashboard in disbelief. “This can’t be happening.”
She tightened her hands on the steering wheel as if she had some supernatural powers and could get the vehicle to restart.
She blew out a deep breath and guided her automobile to a halt on the edge of the road. Putting it in park, she leaned back against her seat.
Two more miles and she would have made it home.
Heavy smoke escaped from under the hood. Embarrassed, Anya glanced around and saw she had stopped directly in front of a fire station.
The muffled ring of her cellphone sounded from inside her purse. She reached over the console and dug it out of her bag.
‘Bestie’ flashed across the screen.
“Hey, girl,” she answered, trying to appear chipper.
“What’s wrong?” Amina asked immediately.
Anya rolled her eyes at the uncanny way her friend was always able to sense something was wrong.
“Oh, nothing out of the ordinary,” she breathed. She peered out the window and took in her surroundings. It was a safe neighborhood, but being stranded on the side of the road was not where she wanted to be.
“What’s wrong with the car this time?”
“Dammit, how do you always know when something is wrong?” Anya chuckled. Again, Amina had impressed her.
“It was an obvious guess. You need to get rid of that death trap.”
“Old Betsy and I have been doing fine. Nothing a little TLC can’t fix.” Anya ran a hand along the dashboard. She gave it one last pat. “Don’t listen to her, girl.”
“Where are you? Have you called for a tow yet?”
“Not yet. I just pulled over, and then you called.” She glanced back over at the firehouse and smirked. “It would be fitting that my car stalled in front of the fire station.”
“Oh, goodness. Isn’t the book you are about to write featuring a fireman?”
“It sure is.” Anya sighed. She was an author and loved every minute of it. Too bad she wasn’t one of those well-known writers who had a big publishing deal bringing in over seven figures. She was an indie novelist and had been able to support herself on her earnings.
“Well, you need to get out of the car and go knock on the door. I’m sure they will be willing to rescue a hot damsel in distress,” Amina joked.
“Sure. I’ll saunter up to the door, bat my eyelashes at them, and they will come outside with no shirts on, showing off their muscles and help little ol’ me.” Anya snorted.
“God, I wish I was there to see it, too!” Amina giggled. “Why can’t my car ever break down in front of a fire station?”
Anya laughed harder at her friend.
“Sure. While you are lost in your fantasy, I’m going to call for help.” Anya shook her head. She reached up and tucked her thick hair behind her ear.
Amina and Anya had been friends for as long as she could remember. They had gone to the same schools and hung out with the same friends. Anya couldn’t even think of a time where Amina wasn’t in her life.
After high school, Anya had moved away from Las Vegas for college. It wasn’t until recently that she’d decided to return to Vegas. Anya needed a new start, and there was nothing like coming home. She pushed out the real reason why she’d had to come back.
There was to be no thinking of him.
Now that she was home, she would get her life together.
“Call me back if you want to talk while you wait for the tow truck,” Amina suggested.
